The Seward County Community College/Area Technical School Board of Trustees met Monday to hear about programs and discuss the 2010-11 budget.

The board discussed a pending lawsuit that Dodge City, Pratt and Cowley County community colleges have filed against the Kansas Board of Regents regarding the funding distribution of post-secondary aid for career and technical education course. The three colleges have also filed an injunction to prevent distribution of at least a portion of the fiscal 2011 post-secondary aid fund until the lawsuit is settled.

The community colleges affected would be SCCC/ATS as well as Kansas City Kansas, Johnson County, Highland, Coffeyville and Hutchinson community colleges. Dr. Duane Dunn, SCCC/ATS president, told the board the lawsuit would impact all six community colleges the same, although the amounts would be different based on enrollment. In addition, the lawsuit would impact those dollars that have been allocated to the technical programs.

The board gave the administration the authority to file an intervention with Kansas City Kansas Community College. It is uncertain which other community colleges will join the intervention as well.

The board approved the program review for the Computer Information Systems program with a status report on the programming courses scheduled for December 2010 and the CIS program in April 2011. Strengths of the program include accreditation with the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, up-to-date technology, and unique offerings through the game design component.

The instructors are in the process of revising the “programming” component of the CIS program to complement the game/simulation component of the program. In addition, they are developing more hybrid courses that include both face-to-face and online instruction.

Numbers in the one-credit-hour evening and weekend classes are increasing, Marcia Hatcher, Business Division chair told the board. More and more students are asking for “basic” computer courses that are offered short-term.

Dr. Mark Sarver, executive director of EduKan, presented a status report on the activities and accomplishments of EduKan during the 2009-10 school year. This online consortium of SCCC/ATS, Pratt, Dodge City, Garden City, Barton and Colby community colleges saw an increase in revenue in 2009-10 of 14.5 percent. SCCC/ATS generated 1,504 hours in 2009-10 and over 10,000 since EduKan first began offering classes online.

EduKan is also planning to launch a new website, a new brochure and several new videos that have been created by students.

Among the new EduKan initiatives are the addition of a Spanish transition program, a K-State international partnership, reorganization of staff members, new associate members, growth in California and Nevada students, Sterling College summer school program, and courses in Mandarin Chinese.

Dr. Sarver presented the Board with a check of $25,000 as part of the dividends returned to each of the six founding colleges of EduKan. Dividends are distributed to the founding colleges as revenues are analyzed and sufficient.

The college is in the process of finalizing information to build the 2010-11 budget based a significant drop in the county valuation.

The Professional Employees Association agreed to a cap on salaries to offset the increase in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield benefits. Other savings include $18,000 in well pay, an estimated $25,000 in electricity during the summer, $7,000 in overtime pay and a reduction in worker’s comp and property insurance. The college also faces additional reductions from the state. Tommy Williams, dean of administrative services indicated that he has received information that oil and gas valuation could decrease resulting further revenue reductions for the college.

In a recent board retreat, board members developed a number of institutional goals that addressed the college’s strategic vision elements of Employee Development, Creating Awareness, Student Learning, Technology, Workforce Development and Diversity. The administration will distribute the goals to the staff for their input before final approval in July.

Dale Reed, associate dean of educational services, presented a report of the Gas Compressor Institute, which showed a $4,600 drop in revenue due to reduced attendance. The Petroleum Education Committee will discuss the institute this week.

o Agreed to pay 8 hours of holiday leave during the week of July 5-8; full days of holiday leave, Dec. 24, 27, 30 and 31; and 4 hours Dec. 23;

The next All Saints Day enrollment session for incoming freshmen is Thursday, June 24. The next board meeting is Monday, June 28, to close the 2009-10 school year.

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The High Plains Daily Leader and Southwest Daily Times are published Sunday through Friday and reaches homes throughout the Liberal, Kansas retail trade zone. The Leader & Times is the official newspaper of Seward County, USD No. 480, USD No. 483 and the cities of Liberal and Kismet. The Leader & Times is a member of the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Press Association and the Associated Press.

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